Other Names:

Cobbler's Pegs, Black-jack, Spanish Needle

Benefits

Anticoccidial

Antiinflammatory

Antioxidant

Antiinfluenza

Antimicrobial

Antifungal

Antiviral

Antiulcer

Wound-healing

Beggar's Ticks

Bidens pilosa

Beggar's ticks (Bidens pilosa) is an erect, perennial herb widely distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. There has been an increasing global interest in the use of B. pilosa, with a large number of studies conducted on the plant in recent years. Different parts of B. pilosa have been reported to be useful in the treatment of over 40 disorders including digestive-related, wounds, immunological-related, inflammation, protozoan infections, bacterial infections, cancers, metabolic syndrome, and many more. B. pilosa is usually ingested, however it is used externally for the treatment of snake bites and wounds.

B. pilosa is reported to contain over 200 different compounds, including 70 aliphatics, 60 flavonoids, 25 terpenoids, 19 phenylpropanoids, 13 aromatics, 8 porphyrins, and 6 other compounds. In terms of its anticoccidial activities, B. pilosa was originally reported for its use as a medicinal herb to treat malaria, a human coccidial disease. The positive response suggested that B. pilosa may also be an effective anticoccidial for chickens, against Eimeria spp.

Nutritional facts about B. pilosa as provided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

Plant (100 g)

Energy (kcal)

Moisture (%)

Protein (g)

Fat (g)

Carbohydrate (g)

Fiber (g)

Ash (g)

Ca (mg)

P (mg)

Fe (ug)

Carotene equivalent (ug)

Raw

43

85.1

3.8

0.5

8.4

3.9

2.2

340

67

--

1,800

Dried

33

88.6

2.8

0.6

6

1.3

2

111

39

2.3

--

Anticoccidial
Adding B. pilosa to your flocks' diet may be beneficial to assist them fight off internal parasite invasion. Studies have shown that 0.5% B. pilosa may be effective against Eimeria, which causes coccidiosis in chickens. Findings showed supplemental begger ticks helped to consistently reduce fecal oocyst excretion and degree of intestine destruction. It was also proven to improve reduced weight gain.